Push release latch



y 5, 1964 B. G. DUNCKEL 3,131,958

PUSH RELEASE LATCH Filed July 24, 1962 BRUCE DUNCKEL BY fl ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 5, 1964 York riled July 24, 1962, Ser'. No. 212,639 9Ciainrs. (Cl. 2915-99) This invention rel-ates to push release latches,that is a latch for a closure which can be disengaged by pushing theclosure beyond the closed position, whereupon the closure is free to bemoved to the open position.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a push release latchof simple construction, but which nevertheless is easy to operate and isdependable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a push release latchwhich is well suited for service on lighting fixtures as the latchreleasably securing a lens panel in place below the light bulbs.

The manner in which these and other objects are attained according tothe invention, be apparent from the following description.

According to the invention, a push release latch is provided tor firstand second members which are movable toward each other to a closedposition and away from each other to an open position. The latchincludes a keeper assembly for mounting on said first member and havinga keeper, and further includes a catch assembly for mounting on thesecond member and having a catch. The keeper assembly comprises a gatefor the keeper and the gate is movable between a 'gate closed positionin which the gate closes the keeper to engagement by the catch, and agate open position in which the keeper is ex posed for engagement by thecatch. The gate is normally closed when the catch and the keeper aredisengaged. For engaging the latch, the catchassembly includes gateopening means for moving the gate to the gate open position andpermitting engagement of the latch upon moving the first and secondmembers into the closed position. For disengaging the latch, the keeperassembly is provided with withdrawing means and the catch assembly isprovided with a cam surface for cooperation with said withdrawing meansto eiiect the disengagement. Thus, upon pushing the said members beyondthe closed position, the cam surface engages the withdrawing means and,in response to such engagement the catch is removed from the keeper,whereupon the gate moves to its normally closed position so that thekeeper is closed to engagement by the catch. The members are then treeto be moved to the open position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second membersare movable along an axis toward each other to a closed position andaway from each other to an open position, and the latch comprises akeeper assembly including a keeper mounted on the first member, and acatch assembly including a catch mounted on the second member. Thekeeper assembly includes a face plate having an axially extendingopening for receiving the catch for engagement of the latch, and thesaid opening has a peripheral edge portion forming the keeper. Thekeeper assembly further includes a gate for the keeper assembly opening,the gate being movable between -a gate closed position in which the gatecloses the opening to the catch, and a gate open position in which theopening is exposed for receiving the catch. The gate is normally closedwhen the latch is disengaged.

The catch assembly includes an axially extending leaf spring secured atone end portion thereof to the said second member and extending fromsaid one end portion toward said first member to termination in a freeend portion as a head piece of the spring. The head has a surfaceinclined to the aforementioned axis and normally disposed across theaxis. The front plate of the keeper assembly is positioned for engagingthe inclined surface of the head upon movement of said members along theaxis to the closed position and, thereupon, deflecting the head fortravel over the front plate. Further, the gate includes means forengagement by the head, upon said movement to the closed position, :andshifting of the gate to the open position in response to such movement.

During the movement to the closed position, when the head registers withthe op ning, the leaf spring presses the head into the opening. The headhas a transverse surface forming the catch which then engages the keeperto hold the members latched.

The keeper assembly further includes means for withdrawing the catchfrom engagement with the keeper, and the head assembly has a cam surfacefor cooperation with the keeper assembly withdrawing means. Uponmovement of the first and second members beyond the closed position, thewithdrawing means engages the cam surface of the head and deflects thehead to withdraw it from the keeper assembly opening. This allows thegate to close, and thereupon the members are free to be moved to theopen position.

[[he invention is further described in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a light fixture provided with a latchaccording to the invention and showing the lens panel in the partiallyopen position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the latch used on the fixture of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a latch according to the invention and of a constructionalternative to that of the latch shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5-7 correspond with FIG. 4 but show the latch in various of itsoperating positions;

FIG. 8 is of an alternative construction and is a crossseotional viewcorresponding to FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 shows an alternate construction for the latch of the invention.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters refer tocorresponding parts.

In the drawing, the push release latch of the invention is shown as thelatch for a lens panel of a lighting fixture. It will be appreciated,however, that the latch is suitable for any pair of first and secondmembers which it is desired to selectively change from an open to aclosed posito the lens panel, engages the keeper assembly .15 so thatthe lens panel is secured in the closed position. To open the fixture,the lens panel is pushed beyondthe closed position (that is, the lenspanel is pushed in the same direction as it was pushed in closing thelens panel), and this movement results in disengagement of the latch sothat the fixture is free to be opened. The lens panel can then be movedto the open position and upon such movement, as is explained below, thelatch will not become engaged. In order to limit the extent to which thepanel can-be pushed beyond theclosed position, .stops '16 are provided.e 7

' Where the lighting fixture is circular, as is shown in -FIG. 1, thelatch assembly is preferably a unitwhich can be attached to thefixturebody portion 11 as by spot welding. A suitable keeper assemblyfor this purpose is depicted in FIG. 2, wherein the front plate 18a andgate 19 make up the keeper assembly, and the catch assembly comprisesleaf spring 14 for attachment to the lens panel. Where, however, thelighting fixture is rectangular, the keeper assembly is preferablyintegral with the body portion 11 of the fixture. Such a construction isshown in FIGS. 3-7 and FIG. 8. 1

. Referring to FIGS. 3-7 the keeper assembly 15 is made integral withthe body portion 11. Thepart 18 of the body portion llserves as a frontplate'for the keeper assembly,.and is provided with an axially extendingopening 21 which has a peripheral edge portion 19a to serve as thekeeper. The keeper assembly 15 further comprises a gate 19 movablebetween a gate closed position (which is shown in FIG. 3) and a gateopen position, in which the opening 21 is exposed by reason of the gatebeing in an elevated position from that shown in FIG. 3. The gate 19 isslidably mounted in the front plate 18 and to aid in maintaining thegate in properalignment the gate extends through a slot 23 in thefixture body portion 11. To limit the upward and downward travel of thegate, and to secure the gate in the keeper assembly, and also to pro-.vide suitable alignment of the gate and opening, ears 24 .are providedand are disposed across the front plate 18 from the gate 19. Thisprovides a loose fitting mounting of the gate on the front plate 18 andthe ears limit upa ward and downward travelof the gateby, respectively,

abutting with the upper and lower periphery of the open- -ing21. Y v

The catch assembly 14 includes axially extending leaf spring 26 and lensframe portion 17a to which one end of the leaf spring is fixedly securedby a rivet 27. The leaf spring extends from the fixed end 25 toward thebody pportion 11 of the fixture to termination in afree end portion as ahead 31. The head includes an inclined surface 32 which is inclined tothe axis indicated by line 9 .(FIG.-1) and normally is disposed acrosssaid axis, as is indicated in FIG. 1. Further, the head 31 has atransverse surface 28 which forms-the catch for the latch.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-7, the'norrnal position for-theunlatched condition, i.e. the position of the latch parts when the lightpanel is open, is represented in FIG. 4, and as is there indicated, thegate 19 is then closed and the catch 28 and keeper 19a are disengaged.'The'head 31 is axially aligned with the opening 21 and the front plate18 is positioned for engaging the inclined surface 32 of the head, uponmovement of the light panel to the closed position shown in FIG. 5. Asthe light panel is moved to the closed position, the face plate 18deflects the head 31 for travel of the head over the front plate 18.Upon further movement toward the closed position, the head strikes thelower edge portion 33 of the gate 19 and shifts the gate to the openposition. The head 31 then registers with the opening 21, the registeredposition of the head being indicated by the representation in thephantom showing from the head in FIG. 5. At the registered position, theleaf spring 26 presses the head 31 into the opening 21 whereupon thecatch 28 engages the keeper 19a to provide the normally closed orlatched condition, which is shown in FIG. 5.

To disengage the latch, the lens panel 12 is pushed beyond the closedposition shown in FIG. 5 and to the position shown in FIG. 6. Thereupon,the inclined surface 32 of the head 31 opposes the lower edge portion 33of the gate 19 and works as a cam surface against the gate lower edgeportion 33, whereby the said lower edge portion 33 serves as awithdrawing means. The cars 24 of the gate 19 arrest upward movement ofthe gate and the pressing of the inclined surface 32 against the loweredge portion 33 of the gate causes the deflection of the head 31 so thatit is withdrawn from the opening 21. Thereupon the gate 19 slides to theclosed position and the various parts are then in the position shown inFIG. 6.

From the position shown in FIG. 6, the light panel 12 can be moved tothe open position, for, since the gate 19 closes the opening 21 to entryby the head 31, the light panel is free to be moved. to the openposition. See FIG. 7.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-7, the gate 15 is freely slidable betweenopen and closed positions and is responsive to the force of gravity tomove from the open to the closed position. Thus, the latch is adaptedfor mounting with the keeper assembly disposed to utilize the force ofgravity to move the keeper gate to the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 9, instead of or in addition to the means describedfor withdrawing the catch from engagement with the keeper, the keeperassembly 15 can be provided with a. cam piece 37 disposedto be engagedby the catch assembly inclined surface 32 or an extension of theinclined surface 32. Such construction is indicated in FIG. 9 whereinthe cam piece 37 engages the inclined sur- "face 32. Engagement of thecam piece 37 with the in clined surface 32 works to effect withdrawal ofthe head piece from opening 21 just as, in FIGS. 5J7, cooperation of theinclined surfaceand lower edge portion 33 of the gate. 19 works toeffect withdrawal of the head piece 31 from the opening 21. Thisalternative construction will serve to obviate any difficultyencountered by reason of tendency of the leaf spring to hold the gateagainst the force of gravity and preventing it from sliding to theclosed position.

It will be appreciated that the catch assembly and 'keeper assemblycanbe reversed from the positions described so that the catch assembly ismounted on the fixture body portion 11 and the keeper assembly is 3-7 inthat the front plate 18a. (FIG. 2) is not integral with the body portion11 of the fixture, but rather is a separate piece adapted to be securedas by Welding to the body portion 11. Thus, in a round fixture, as well.as in a rectangular fixture, a keeper. 19a which is straight ratherthan curved can be provided. Except for the variation in FIG. 2 ofmaking the front plate 18:: piece non-integral with the body portion 11,the embodiment of FIG. 2 is the same as the embodiment of FIGS. 3-7.

While several specific embodiments of the invention have been describedin detail, various modifications and alterations of these embodiments.will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to secure bythese Letters Patent all such modifications as are within the scope ofthe. appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A push release latch for first and second membersmovable along an axis toward each other to a closed position and awayfrom each other to an open position, said latch comprising a keeperassembly including a keeper mounted on the first member and a catchassembly includ ing a catch mounted on the second member, said keeperassembly including a face plate having an axially extending opening forreceiving said catch for engagement of the catch, said opening having aperipheral edge portion forming said keeper, a gate for said openingmovable between a gate closed position in which the gate closes saidopening to said catch, and a gate open position in whichthe opening isexposed for receiving said catch, the gate being normally closed whenthe latch is disengaged, said catch assembly including an axiallyextending leaf spring secured at one end portion thereof to said secondmember and extending from said end portion toward said first member totermination in a free end portion as a head piece of the spring, saidhead having a surface inclined to said axis and normally disposed acrosssaid axis, said front plate of the keeper assembly being positioned forengaging the inclined surface of the head upon movement of said membersalong said axis to the closed position and deflecting the head fortravel over the front plate during said movement, said gate includingmeans for engagement by the head upon said movement and shifting of thegate to the open position in response to said movement, whereby duringsaid movement when the head registers with the opening, the leaf springpresses the head into the opening, said head having a transverse surfaceforming the catch which then engages said keeper to hold the memberslatched, the keeper assembly further including means for Withdrawing thecatch from engagement with the keeper and said head of the catchassembly having a cam surface for cooperation with said withdrawingmeans, the withdrawing means, upon movement of said members beyond theclosed position, engaging the cam surface of the head and deflecting thehead to withdraw it from the keeper assembly opening and allow the gateto move to the normally closed position to close the keeper assemblyopening to engagement by the catch, whereby with the keeper gate closedand the members beyond the closed position, the members are free to bemoved to the open position.

2. A push release latch according to claim 1, the keeper assembly gatebeing freely slidabie along said axis between open and closed positionsin response to the force of gravity, whereby the latch is adapted formounting with the keeper assembly disposed to utilize the force ofgravity to move the keeper gate to the closed position.

3. A push release latch according to claim 1, the keeper assemblyincluding spring means urging the gate to the closed position.

4. A push release latch according to claim 1, the said cam surface ofthe head of the catch assembly being an extension of the said inclinedsurface of said head.

5. A push release latch according to claim 1, the inclined surface ofthe head opposing an edge portion of the gate with the catch engaged,means limiting movement of the gate toward the open position so thatupon movement of the members beyond the closed position the inclinedsurface of the head forces the gate against said limiting means and saidedge portion of the gate functions as the catch assembly withdrawingmeans cooperating with the inclined surface of the head as said camsurface.

6. A push release latch for first and second members movable along anuis toward each other to a closed position and away from each other toan open position, said latch comprising a keeper assembly for mountingon said first member and including a keeper, and a catch assembly formounting on said second member and including a catch, said keeperassembly comprising a gate for the keeper movable between a gate closedposition in which the gate closes the keeper to engagement by the catchand a gate open position in which the keeper is exposed for engagementby the catch, the gate being normally closed when the catch and keeperare disengaged, said catch being positioned and adapted and mounted onsaid catch assembly so as to be transversely movable between latchingposition in which said catch is engaged Within said keeper in closedposition of said members and unlatching position in which said catch isalways clear of said keeper, said catch being biased to latchingposition, the catch assembly including gate opening means engaging thegate and moving the gate to the gate open position and permittingengagement of the catch with said keeper upon moving said members intothe closed position, said catch and said keeper assembly havingcooperating cam means engageable with each other upon movement of saidmembers beyond closed position and then operable to move said catch tounlatching position, said gate being thereby free to move to thenormally closed position to close the keeper to engagement by the catchand the members being thereby free to be moved to the open position.

7. A push release latch for first and second members as defined in claim6 wherein said catch comprises an axially extending flexible andresilient member secured at the bottom thereof to said second member andextending from the secured bottom toward said first memmber andterminating in a head portion which is adapted to be engaged by saidkeeper, said head portion being provided with said cooperating cammeans.

8. A push release latch for first and second members movable along anaxis toward each other to a closed position and away from each other toan open position, said latch comprising a keeper assembly for mountingon said first member and including the keeper, and a catch assembly formounting on said second member and including a catch, said keeperassembly comprising a gate for the keeper movable between a gate closedposition in which the gate closes the keeper to engagement by the catchand the gate open position in which the keeper is exposed for engagementby the catch, the gate being normally closed by spring means when thecatch and keeper are disengaged, said catch being positioned and adaptedand mounted on said catch asssembly so as to be transversely movablebetween latching position in which said catch is engaged within saidkeeper in closed position of said members and unlatching position inwhich said catch is always clear of said keeper, said catch being biasedto latching position, the catch assembly including gate opening meansengaging the gate and moving the gate to the gate open position andpermitting engagement of the catch with said keeper upon moving saidmembers into the closed position, said catch including a cam surface onthe upper portion thereof, and Withdrawing means on said keeper assemblyengageable with said cam surface upon movement of said members beyondclosed position to move said catch to unlatching position, said gatebeing thereby free to move to the normally closed position to close thekeeper to engagement by the catch and the members being thereby free tobe moved to the open positlon.

9. A push release latch forfirst and second members movable along anaxis toward each other to a closed position and away from each other toan open position, said latch comprising a keeper assembly for mountingon said first member and including a keeper, and a catch assembly formounting on said second member and including a catch, said catchcomprising an axially extending flexible and resilient member secured atthe bottom thereof to said second member and extending from the securedbottom toward said first member and terminating in a head portion, saidhead portion having a surface inclined to said axis and normallydisposed across said axis and adapted to be engaged by said keeper, saidkeeper assembly comprising a gate for the keeper movable between a gateclosed position in which the gate closes the keeper to engagement by thecatch and a gate open position in which the keeper is exposed forengagement by the catch, said gate being normally closed when the catchand keeper and mounted on said catch assembly so as to be transverselymovable between latching position in which said normally disposedsurface is engaged within said keeper in closed position of said membersand unlatching position in which said catch is always clear of saidkeeper, said catch being biased to latching position, said head portionbeing further adapted to engage the gate and move the gate to the gateopen position to permit engagement of the catch with said keeper uponmoving said members into the closed position, said keeper assemblyinclined cooperating cam means engageable with said inclined surface onsaid head portion upon movement of said members beyond closed positionto move said catch to unlatching position, said gate being thereby freeto move to the normally closed position to close the keeper toengagement by the catch and the members being thereby free to be movedto the open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,637,576 Nottingham May 5, 1953 2,868,577 Zingone Jan. 13, 19593,027,452 McGinty Mar. 27, 1962

6. A PUSH RELEASE LATCH FOR FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS MOVABLE ALONG AN AXIS TOWARD EACH OTHER TO A CLOSED POSITION AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO AN OPEN POSITION, SAID LATCH COMPRISING A KEEPER ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING ON SAID FIRST MEMBER AND INCLUDING A KEEPER, AND A CATCH ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING ON SAID SECOND MEMBER AND INCLUDING A CATCH, SAID KEEPER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A GATE FOR THE KEEPER MOVABLE BETWEEN A GATE CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH THE GATE CLOSES THE KEEPER TO ENGAGEMENT BY THE CATCH AND A GATE OPEN POSITION IN WHICH THE KEEPER IS EXPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE CATCH, THE GATE BEING NORMALLY CLOSED WHEN THE CATCH AND KEEPER ARE DISENGAGED, SAID CATCH BEING POSITIONED AND ADAPTED AND MOUNTED ON SAID CATCH ASSEMBLY SO AS TO BE TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE BETWEEN LATCHING POSITION IN WHICH SAID CATCH IS ENGAGED WITHIN SAID KEEPER IN CLOSED POSITION OF SAID MEMBERS AND UNLATCHING POSITION IN WHICH SAID CATCH IS ALWAYS CLEAR OF SAID KEEPER, SAID CATCH BEING BIASED TO LATCHING POSITION, THE CATCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING GATE OPENING MEANS ENGAGING THE GATE AND MOVING THE GATE TO THE GATE OPEN POSITION AND PERMITTING ENGAGEMENT OF THE CATCH WITH SAID KEEPER UPON MOVING SAID MEMBERS INTO THE CLOSED POSITION, SAID CATCH AND SAID KEEPER ASSEMBLY HAVING COOPERATING CAM MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS BEYOND CLOSED POSITION AND THEN OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID CATCH TO UNLATCHING POSITION, SAID GATE BEING THEREBY FREE TO MOVE TO THE NORMALLY CLOSED POSITION TO CLOSE THE KEEPER TO ENGAGEMENT BY THE CATCH AND THE MEMBERS BEING THEREBY FREE TO BE MOVED TO THE OPEN POSITION. 